What's hot and what's not in this week's new releases.

By Tori Mayo.

The Bottletop Band - Dream Service.

Charity albums raise much-needed funds for good causes, although quality control is not always a key issue when it comes to the music. Fortunately, The Bottletop Band bucks the trend. With the help of leading Brazilian musicians, many of the UK's celebrated artists have contributed to the album with VV Brown, Carl Barat, Gruff Rhys and Eliza Doolittle among the line-up. Proving an enjoyable listen throughout, the money raised will support charitable initiatives in countries including Brazil, Malawi and Rwanda. The Bottletop Band's cross-cultural groove is best exemplified by One In A Million, with vocals by Doolittle. The perfect soundtrack to lazy, sunny afternoons.

Rating: 7/10 (Review by Kim Mayo) Blood Orange - Coastal Grooves This solo album from Test Icicles and Lightspeed Champion's Devonte Hynes is made up of languid, sun-bleached numbers perfect for sticky summer days. Whether you're soaking up rays in California or Carlisle, the slowed-to-a-crawl rhythm of S'cooled, longing chords of Can We Go Inside Now and the smooth, hypnotic groove of Sutphin Boulevard are the perfect soundtrack for lazing the day away. Tracks such as I'm Sorry We Lied switch up the pace to pleasing effect, bringing some motorik beats and a touch more urgency. The album's title hits the nail on the head, as for the most part this is an album of achingly subtle, 1980s-inspired pop loveliness.

Rating: 8/10 (Review by Simon Harker) Paul McCartney - Driving Rain Nearly 10 years after it was originally released, Driving Rain gets a second outing. If you have the first edition you'll find it easy to resist the re-release - it's neither expanded nor remastered. The original saw Paul McCartney produce a raw, uncompromising sound, unfortunately the effect wasn't always successful. A decade on, the cracks are all the more visible. About You trundles along without much weight, as does the well-intentioned, though clumsy, Freedom. Meanwhile, the jaunty Heather and I Do make for an uncomfortable listen. It's the nursery rhyme-like She's Given Up Talking which stands out as one of few highlights, if only as a blueprint for the more accomplished outings of the last few years.

Rating: 5/10 (Review by Robert Penney) Crystal Fighters - Star Of Love (Deluxe edition) Originally released in October 2010, the Spanish and English five-piece outfit now return with a deluxe edition of their debut. If you missed the album the first time around expect a fusion of percussion and electronic beats. Clearly inspired by both the traditional folk music of Spain's Basque region and modern acts such as Casiokids and CSS, the pre-deluxe version was well received with highlights including I Love London, I Do This Everyday and Xtatic Truth, which were only slightly spoiled by occasional derivative moments. The deluxe edition includes the group's strong cover of Golpes Bajos' Fiesta De Los Maniquins, as well as satisfying acoustic versions of album tracks Plage, At Home, Champion Sound, Follow and Xtatic Truth, making this album a worthwhile purchase.

Rating: 7/10 (Review by Adam Gaudry) Hannah Montana - Best Of Hannah Montana As pop-will-eat-itself moments go, Miley Cyrus trying to forge a music career while being rivalled by her own sitcom character is one for the ages. Where Cyrus's early records have attempted to position her as a fresher-faced Britney, this is a throwback to her tweeny days of bubblegum pop. Whether there is a UK market for a compilation of soundtrack songs from a now defunct American series is doubtful and the absence of top 20 hit The Climb (originally featured on Hannah Montana The Movie) is puzzling.

Rating: 3/10 (Review by Rory Dollard) Various Artists - The Very Best Of Lipstick On Your Collar There's certainly no shortage of 1950s pop music compilations on the market, but with 78 tracks spread over three CDs, the sheer abundance of classics present on Lipstick On Your Collar makes it a must-have album. Spanning a period from the mid 1950s to the early 1960s and encompassing the primal rock 'n' roll of Jerry Lee Lewis as well as the sophisticated surf-pop of the Beach Boys, the set is absolutely packed with vintage hits. Anyone with a taste for all things retro would be hard pressed not to find something to love in such an upbeat and infectious grab-bag of golden oldies.

Rating: 8/10 (Review by James Robinson) Various Artists - Hed Kandi Ibiza 2011 Stylish house music label Hed Kandi has once again produced a compilation which captures the mood of the moment. Mixed by its resident DJ Carl Hanaghan, this triple CD set houses some of the biggest anthems to come out of this year's opening parties. Highlights include Example's Changed The Way You Kissed Me (Felix Leiter & Mark Maitland Remix) and Forward Motion by Jamie Jones, Lee Foss and Hot Nature featuring Ali Love. With the beats played out across the dance floors of the Balearic Island, a reliable indicator of what's to come in the clubs back home, this album will be just as satisfying for both those flying out to Ibiza as those who are sticking with clubs on home turf.

Rating: 8/10 (Review by Tori Mayo) Wakey! Wakey! - Almost Everything I Wish I'd Said The Last Time I Saw You The debut album by Brooklyn-based indie outfit Wakey! Wakey! starts promisingly, with catchy opener Almost Everything combining rock-pop with enough experimental flourishes to lift the record out of the generic expectations. But afterwards, apart from a few stand-out tracks, namely The Oh Song, 1876 - The Brooklyn Theatre Fire and bonus track Clinton St Girl, it just ticks by uneventfully. Frontman Michael Grubbs is a skilled pianist and there is a hint of Elton John and musical theatre among the influences (perhaps not a surprise when you consider he's also had a reoccurring role on TV show One Tree Hill), but the record loses its way amid over emotive earnestness.

Rating: 6/10 (Review by Natalie Bowen) Slam Cartel - Handful Of Dreams In a throw back to the late 1980s and 1990s, Slam Cartel channel several hard rock, heavy metal and grunge acts which typified the sound of the era on their debut album. Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Foo Fighters are among the influences felt across this offering from the London-based, six-piece band. Soulful ballads, Breathe, Maybe Sometimes and orchestral closing track Walk A Mile, focus on frontman Giles Van Lane's melodies, bringing to mind Eddie Vedder and Axel Rose's vocals. The faster, guitar and drum-heavy tracks can be likened to Motorhead and Foo Fighters while funky Missmatched Ties and a cover of Talking Heads' Once In A Lifetime have Red Hot Chili Peppers all over them. While rather unoriginal, this album is well executed and pleasantly nostalgic.

Rating: 6/10 (Review by Tori Mayo) Mary-Jess - Shine Ethereal-voiced Mary-Jess Leaverland first drew attention as the British student who won China's version of The X Factor during her placement year in 2009. Hopping between classical and pop, like an amalgamation of Sarah Brightman, Enya and Charlotte Church, the Gloucester girl can hit the high notes perfectly. Yue Guang Ai Ren (A Love Before Time) from the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, displays her Chinese fluency. In fact, the entire album could be the soundtrack to an oriental fantasy role-play computer game. Sadly, Rising From The Fire smacks of a Disney film, the drawn-out Glorious sounds pseudo-worshipful and the constant upper register quickly starts to grate.

Rating: 4/10 (Review by Natalie Bowen) Singles by Tori Mayo :: The Reason 4 - Take It All Having captured the nation's imagination on the 2010 series of The X Factor, the debut single from the four-piece's forthcoming mini-album, Crying Out Loud, is a worthy effort. Singing about believing in yourself and seizing opportunities, the former builders' vocals are in complete harmony and the track is both uplifting and memorable.

:: Britney Spears - I Wanna Go Sounding as young as she did 10 years ago, the star's latest release from her Femme Fatale album is a solid yet predictable floor-filler set to an aerobic pace. Catchy whistling stands out over her unmistakable vocals and a relentless beat.

:: Jennifer Hudson - No One Gonna Love You Full of soul and attitude, this heartfelt track is set to rival R&B classics by the likes of Mariah Carey and Beyonce. Jennifer Hudson's outstanding, powerful vocals dominate on this stripped-down track taken from her I Remember Me album.

On The Road Live review: Kendal's Calling July 29-31, Lake District With this year's event attracting headliners including Chase And Status and Blondie, there was plenty to keep the 8,000 festival-goers entertained.

The biggest crowd of the festival was predictably for cult indie band The Cribs on Saturday night, with the Jarman brothers 2007 hit Men's Needs just edging out House of Pain's Jump Around for the top mass-participation moment of the festival.

Elsewhere, the Riot Jazz tent and Glow Dance tent both offered strong line-ups and the Calling Out stage impressed, with Manchester band Meadow a highlight on the Sunday.

However, it wasn't just the music which made the weekend such a success. From the circus skill classes on offer to the scores of artists and performers who made their way around the site in weird and wonderful costumes, the additional touches made it a weekend to remember.

Add to that the beautiful location - surrounded by ancient trees amid the Lakeland fells - and with the sun shining for the whole weekend, it's difficult to see how the festival could be bettered.

(Review by Bradley Walton) Tour Dates :: Legendary singer-songwriter, musician and performer Bob Dylan has announced a series of shows in the UK this autumn. The septuagenarian will be performing tracks from his five-decade back catalogue. Kicking off at the Braehead Arena in Glasgow on October 8, Dylan will also play Manchester MEN Arena, Nottingham Capital FM Arena, Cardiff Motorpoint Arena and Bournemouth BIC. Mark Knopfler and band will support. For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.co.uk :: Following the success of her Mercury nominated second album, I Speak Because I Can, Laura Marling has announced she'll be embarking on a unique tour this October. The Londoner will perform in 11 cathedrals across England. Marling will open her tour in Exeter and bring it to a close in Birmingham. For more information, visit www.gigsandtours.com